Litter and stacking cot



F. L. DAVIS LITTER AND STACKING COT Sept. 24, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 6, 1961 INVENTOR. FRANK 1.. DAVIS BY Q B ATTORNEY Sept. 24,1963 F. 1... DAVIS 3,104,401

LITTER AND STACKING 001 v. Filed July 6, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a E1 7%;50 60 40 F INVENTOR. FRANK L.DAV1$ Sept. 24, 1963 F. L. DAVIS 3,104,401

LITTER AND STACKING COT Filed July 6, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tiql 3. TiEEEI.

INVENTOR. FRANK L. DAVIS A TTOANE Y Sept. 24, 1963 F. L. DAVIS 3,104,401

LITTER AND STACKINGCOT Filed July 6, 1961 6 sheets sheet 4 I INVENTOR.

T a- W% Sept; 24, 1963 F. L. DAVIS 3,104,401

LITTER YAND 'STACKING co'r Filed July 6,4961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ti. E.E 7.

FRANK L. DAV/5 A TTORNE Sept. 24, 1963 F. 1.. DAVIS 3,104,401

LITTER AND STACKING COT Filed July 6, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l I llINVENTOR.

FRANK. L. DAVIS BY MXKWQQM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,104,401LITTER AND STACKING C031 Frank L. Davis, oliege Point, NY. (30 MarinersLane, Northport, LL, N.Y.) Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 123,380 6Claims. (Cl. -82) The invention herein disclosed relates to litterconstructions.

Objects of the invention are to provide a litter of strong but lightweight construction, foldable into compact ttorm but readily unufoldedand set up for use as a stretcher or a cot and which, in the form of acot, may be stacked and secured one on top of another.

Special objects of the invention are to provide this combinationstructure in a safe, secure form which can be quickly folded andunfolded and which will be firmly and positively held in both the closedand the set up conditions.

Further special objects of the invention are to provide a litter havingthe advantages mentioned which will consist of but few sturdy partswhich can be produced at low cost and which can readily be kept in cleansanitary condition.

Other special objects of the invention are to provide a litterconstruction to which various attachments, such as back rests, canopycovers, plasma holders, serving trays, restraining harness and the like,may be readily applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple, practical meansfor enabling the litter to be extended in length, if necessary, toaccommodate a person of exceptional height, or the like.

The tforegoing and other desirable objects have been accomplished bynovel :features of construction, combination and relation of parts ashereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andcovered in the claims.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification areillustrative of present practical embodiments of the invention.Structure however may be modified and changed as regards the immediateillustration, all within the true intent and scope of the invention ashereinafter defined and claimed.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one of the, litters with legs lowered,taking the storm of a cot.

FIG. 2 is a broken side elevation of the left end or the litter, withlegs folded and the leg supporting brackets serving as [feet forsupporting the litter as a stretcher on the ground.

FIG. 3 is a plan View of the right end of the litter with cover brokenaway to show the hinged spreader. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectionaldetail on line 4-4 of FIG. l of the leg with the hinged foot forminglatch on the end of the same.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional detail on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, showing theleg held up to the side bar by the hinged latch.

FIG. 6 is a broken side elevation showing one cot stacked on top ofanother and secured in such relation by hinged latches pivoted 011113116leg brackets.

FIG. 7 is a broken side elevation showing how accessory attachments suchas irrigation rods and back rest may be mounted on the side bars of thelitter.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are broken plan and side elevations showing anotheraccessory, a serving tray, mounted on one of the side rails. 7

FIGS. 10 and 11 are similar views showing the mounting of anotheraccessory, an ash tray or cup holder.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional detail of the latter, taken online 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a broken sectional detail of the irrigation rod support online 13-13 of FIG. 7.

3,164,4hl Patented Sept. 24, 1963 ice FIG. 14 is a broken detail viewingthe inner side out the latter fixture.

'FIG. 15 is a broken side elevation of the stacking latch in projected,holding relation.

FIG. 16 is a broken part sectional view of the same on substantially theplane of line 16-46 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a similar view on substantially the plane of line 1717 ofFIG. 15.

FIGS. 18, 19, 20 are enlarged front, side, and broken sectional views ofthe stacking latch.

FIG. 21 is a broleen plan view of the back rest appearing in \FIG. 7.

FIG. 22 is a broken part sectional plan on line 2222 of FIG. 17, showingthe spreader construction and the manner in which the spreader bars arehinged to the leg mounting brackets. I

FIG. 23 is a broken detail of the latch and hand mechanism on thespreader bars.

FIG. 24 is a broken sectional detail showing how the spacer brackets onthe ends of the spreader bars hinge on the mounted brackets 40.

FIG. 25 is a broken plan of one end of the litter in the folded 'orcollapsed condition, secured thus by a confining strap wrapped about theside bars.

FIG. 26 is a detail of the nylon cover construction.

FIG. 26a is a broken plan showing how the cover is 7 cut and folded toavoid leaving rough edges at the corners.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing rest-raining harness attached to litter.7

FIG. 28 is a broken detail of one of the clips for securing therestraining harness. This view taken looking in the direction of thearrow 28 in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a broken plan as on line 29-29 or FIG. 28.

FIGS. 30, 31 and 32 are broken side elevations and plan showing how theback rest may be mounted so that it may be dropped down to form anextension of the stretcher.

The side bars 50 of the litter are shown of the special extruded tubularform disclosed in companion applica tion Serial No. 92,242, filedFebruary 28, 1961, now Patent No. 3,040,340 of June 26, 196 2, slottedalong the side at 31, FIG. 5, for passage of the nylon cover 32 havingthe triple folded seam 33 held in the confining chamber 34, These slotsand connected chambers are open at opposite ends of the litter so thatthese covers can be quickly slipped into place or be removed from theside bars. 'Ihus soiled covers can be quickly removed and be replaced byfresh covers.

In use the aprons or covers are held in place by tapes 35 attached itothe undersides of the covers, FIG. 3, and having grommets buttoned overstuds 36 on the inner sides of the rails. In addition to holding thecovers in place against endwise slippage over the side bars these tapesare useful as handles in pulling the cover endwise into position overthe side bars.

The legs 37 are shown as of tubular constructiompivoted on bolts 38between the sides .39 of dependent U brackets 40 secured to the sidebars at4l. These side portions are connected together in spaced apartrelation at the bottom by cross connecting portions 42 which serve asfeet for supporting the litter infolded condition, FIG. 2, on theground. V

The legs are secured in lowered extended relation by cross pins 4-3which slide down through slots 44 in the side plates 39 into positionholding the legs against the edges 45, FIG. 1, of the connectingportions 42. Slots 44 are shown as sloped at their lower endsso as tocam the holding pins into position securing the legs firmly against thestop shoulders 45. V

When the legs are lowered the securing pins "43 will drop downautomatically locking the legs in extended position where they be helduntil the pins are manually 3 raised to release positions at the upperends of the slots, FIG. 2.

To secure the legs in the lifted folded position shown in FIG. 2 springlatches are provided, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, as U-sha-ped members '46pivoted on studs 17 in position closing the ends of the hollow legs andthus forming self-adjusting feet for supporting the legs on unevensurfaces, these members having hook extensions 48 engageable withprojections 49 on the sides of the side bars.

The hooked feet 46 for securing the legs in up-raised relation are showntensioned by springs 56 to automatically catch over the holdingprojections 49 when the legs are raised into position beneath the sidebars.

The spreaders for the side bars are shown as channel cross section bars51, 52, FIG. 3, pivoted together at their inner ends at 53 and pivotedat their outer ends on the side bars at 54. These spreader bars may bearranged to swing past dead center in the extended relation and they areshown as releasably secured in this relation by a spring latch 55 on onebar engaging the keeper 56 on the companion bar.

Handles 57 pivoted on the spreader hinges 53' provide means for pullingthe spreaders into collapsed position after the securing latches 55 havebeen released. FIG. 3 shows how these safety latches are operable byfinger buttons 58 located within reach of the hand operating thecollapsing handle 57.

The pivots for the outer ends of the spreader bars are provided, in theillustration, by long bolts at 54 which extend down through the sidebars, FIG. 15, and through spacer brackets 59 and the spreader bars 51,52, these bolts being headed over extended washers 68- at their lowerends after passage through the connecting foot portions 42 of thedependent brackets, to serve in the nature of casters.

The spacer brackets 59 are rigidly attached to the spreader bars..Spacer tubes 61 extend from the bottom portions 42 up to the internalwalls 62, FIG. 17, of the side bars so that the bolts can be setuptight, leaving the spacers 59 and spreader bars free to swing on thespacer tubes. At the bottom these parts pivot on a short spacer tube 63surrounding the long spacer tube 61.

When the litters with legs extended are to be stacked one on top ofanother the foot forming brackets 4-6 rest on the side bars and arefirmly secured in this relation by latch levers 64-, FIGS. to 20,pivoted on bolts 65 extended through the side bars.

These latch levers 64 are shown in the form of chan nels each having anopening 66 in one side extended into a narrower slot 67 in the back ofthe lever to receive the shank of the headed bolt 47 forming the pivotfor the foot bracket 46 of the litter above.

Spring plates 68 secured in the channels by the pivot bolts 65 andprovided with openings 69 to pass the heads of the bolts 47serve to lockthe latch levers in holding engagement over bolts 47 as shown in FIGS.18 and 19.

To enable passage of the spring holding plates 68 over the heads ofbolts 47 these plates preferably have extensions 70 projecting throughopenings 66 to ride over the heads of bolts 4-7 when the levers arerocked toward the holding position and these extensions are shown ashaving cam slopes 71 to cam the spring strips outward over the heads ofbolts 47 as the holding levers are swung from the retracted position,FIG. 1, into the projecting holding relation, shown in FIG. 15.

In the locked relation, FIGS. 18, 19, the spring plate 68 engaged overthe shank of bolt 47 prevents movement of the lever 64 in the releasedirection. To permit release movement of said lever the spring latchplate or lever 68 is withdrawn by means of handle extension 72., clearof bolt 47, FIG. 20, whereupon lever 64 may be turned back and downwardinto the inactive position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the latter relation the stacking lever 64 is releasably held byengagement of opening 73 in the back of the sameover the head of the legpivot bolt 38.

Projections for attaching various accessories are pro vided on the sidebars by properly spaced through bolts having exposed heads spaced awayfrom the sides of these bars.

These through bolts may be spaced substantially as a keyhole slot 79 todrop down over one of the projecting bolt heads and there to bereleasably held by an overstanding spring 8d.

FIGS. 7, l3 and 14 show an irrigation rod 81 supported in theoutstanding flanges 82, 83* of a plate 84 having an inturned flange 85engageablc over the top of a side bar, said plate having a keyhole slot86 engageable over the head of one of the through bolts 77, releasablyheld there by an overstanding spring 87. i

A back rest such as shown at 88 in FIG. 7 may be de tachably connectedwith the side bars by having spring latches 64', similar to that shownin FIGS. 18, 19, 20,-se-

cured to the slanting and upright arms 89, 99 of such sup port,engageable over properly located projecting studs or bolts 77 on theside bars.

To extend the length of the litter the back rest may be folded down fromthe position shown in FIG. 3Q to the position shown in FIGS. 31 and 32.

To make this change the upright posts 9% are hooked onto bolt heads 77inward from the end of the litter and the inclined braces 89 aredisconnected. Then, as. appears in FIG. 31, the upright and angledsupports may be lowered to substantially horizontal position with backrest 88 forming an extension of the cover 32. The clasp 64 by which theupright 90 is pivoted has anotch 111 in the side of the same to engageover the stud 77 which is nearest the end of the litter so'that it willbe sup ported in this extended horizontal position.

A belt or harness for holding or restraining a patient on the litter mayhave end fittings engageable with different bolts or studs projectingfrom the sides of the side bars.

The restraining harness may be similar to that in copending patentapplication Serial No. 57,178, filed September 20, 1960, now Patent No.3,046,982 of July 31,1962, having straps which, by the provision of endfittings to engage the projections on the side bars, may be extendeddiagonally across the litter from one end to the other, imparting acertain bracing efiect to the litter.

A strap or straps for confining the litter in the fully collapsedcondition shown in FIG. 25 may be attached at one or both ends of theside bars, as shown at 92, this being long enough to wrap about thesebars and carry ing a spring socket 93 to snap over a mating projection94 on the fastened end'portion of the strap.

FIGS. 26 and 26a show how the'nylon cover may be cut at the corners,folded and stitchedso as to leave no raw edges which might interferewith sliding the cover 7 V in place in the extruded litter rails.

FIG. 26:: shows a corner of the cover cut in from the side with oneindentation 112 and cut in from the end with a second indentation 113.The end is folded under first on line 114- and then on line 115, afterwhich the side edge is foldedunder successively on lines 116', 117 and118 and then secured togetherby a single row of stitching 119. The endfolds also are secured by a single row of through stitching 120, FIG.26. 7

FIG. 27 shows how a restraining harness similar'to that of Patent No.3,046,982, may be madefastlto the litter by straps having end fitting toengage the studs projecting from the side bars.

This harness is shown as made up of diagonally extending straps 100, 101at the back connected where they cross and having clips 102 at the endsprovided with keyhole slots 103 engageable over the projecting heads ofbolts 77 on the side bars, releasably held so by overstanding springretainers 104, with shoulder straps 5 attached to these back straps andextended to the quick release buckle 106. Front straps 107, 108 areshown extending from this same buckle, connected together by cross strap109 and provided with similar spring clasps 110 engaged with other studson the side bars.

What is claimed is:

1. A litter as herein disclosed comprising the combination of side bars,body supporting material attached thereto, Spreaders for holding saidside bars in spaced parallel relation, U-shaped brackets dependent fromsaid side bars, said brackets having spaced parallel side portionssecured to said side bars and connected at the bottom by portionsforming feet for supporting the litter on the ground, legs pivotedbetween said side portions and foldable up against the undersides of theside bars, and means for securing said legs in the up folded position orin the downwardly extended relation, including spring latches forreleasably securing the legs beneath the side bars and stop shoulders onsaid connecting portions at the lower ends of the brackets engageable bythe pivoted legs in the lowered position of the same, limiting movementof the legs in the lowering direction and stop pins engageable with thelegs in lowered position, said side portions of the brackets havingslots for guiding and holding said stop pins in engagement with the legsafter the legs have been lowered into engagement with said stopshoulders.

2. A litter as herein disclosed comprising the combination of side bars,body supporting material attached thereto spreaders for holding saidside bars in spaced parallel relation, U-shaped brackets dependent fromsaid side bars, said brackets having spaced parallel side portionssecured to said side bars and connected at the bottom by portionsforming feet for supporting the litter on the ground, legs pivotedbetween said side portions and foldable up against the undersides of theside bars, and means for securing said legs in the up folded position orin the downwardly extended relation, said legs having self-adjustingpivoted shoes on the lower ends of the same to rest on the side bars ofa litter below the same and latches on said brackets engageable withsaid shoes for securing litters in stacked relation.

3. A litter comprising side bars connected by body supporting medium Ubrackets dependent from said side bars and having side portions afiixedto said side bars and connecting portions at the bottom of said sideportions forming feet for supporting the liters on the ground, legspivotally supported between said side portions, said connecting portionshaving stop shoulders limiting downward pivoting movement of said legsand members slidingly mounted between said side portions for holding thelegs in engagement with said stop shoulders, said members 7 comprisingelements engageable with said legs and said side portions having slotsreceiving said members and disposed to guide the same into holdingengagement with the legs and extended to release said members fromengagement with the legs and means for releasably securing the ends ofsaid legs in unlifted engagement with said side bars when said elementsare freed from holding engagement with the legs, the extended portionsof said slots being inclined to drop said members into holdingengagement with said legs when the legs are lowered after releasing thesame from the side bars.

4. A litter comprising parallel side bars connected by body supportingmedium, drop legs pivotally connected with said side bars and foldableup into position beneath said side bars, holding abutments on said sidebars and supporting feet pivoted on said legs and having hook elementsspring tensioned into holding engagement with said abutments on saidside bars for releasably securing the legs in raised relation.

5. A litter comprising parallel side bars connected by body supportingmedium, tubular supporting legs pivotally connected with said side bars,U-shaped brackets pivoted over the lower ends of said legs in positioncovering the ends of said legs and forming foot pads, abutments on saidbars, hook formations on said foot pad brackets engageable with saidabutments and spring means yieldingly urgin-g said hook formations intoengagement with said projections for releasably securing the legs inupwardly pivoted position beneath the side bars.

6. A litter comprising parallel side bars connected by body supportingmaterial, headed studs projecting in spaced relation from the sides ofsaid side bars and litter accessories detachably and interchangeablyengageable with said headed studs, including a folding back rest pivotedto headed studs on said side bars to swing from an upstanding back restforming position to a lowered position over the side bars and forming alongitudinal extension of the litter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS989,867 Palmer Apr. 18, 191 1 2,361,328 Springer Oct. 24, 1944 2,377,940Hughes June 12, 1945 2,601,365 Carpenter June 24, 1952 2,640,996 DavisJune 9, 1953 2,675,564 Hughes Apr. 20, 1954 2,722,690 Donargo Nov. 8,1955 2,761,153 New Sept. 4, 1956 2,899,693 Stollenwerk Aug. 18, 19593,007,180 Z'augg Nov. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,5 16 Norway Oct. 9,1939 232,777 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1944 1,011,606 France Apr. 2, 1952

1. A LITTER AS HEREIN DISCLOSED COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF SIDE BARS,BODY SUPPORTING MATERIAL ATTACHED THERETO, SPREADERS FOR HOLDING SAIDSIDE BARS IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION, U-SHAPED BRACKETS DEPENDENT FROMSAID SIDE BARS, SAID BRACKETS HAVING SPACED PARALLEL SIDE PORTIONSSECURED TO SAID SIDE BARS AND CONNECTED AT THE BOTTOM BY PORTIONSFORMING FEET FOR SUPPORTING THE LITTER ON THE GROUND, LEGS PIVOTEDBETWEEN SAID SIDE PORTIONS AND FOLDABLE UP AGAINST THE UNDERSIDES OF THESIDE BARS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID LEGS IN THE UP FOLDED POSITION ORIN THE DOWNWARDLY EXTENDED RELATION, INCLUDING SPRING LATCHES FORRELEASABLY SECURING THE LEGS BENEATH THE SIDE BARS AND STOP SHOULDERS ONSAID CONNECTING PORTIONS AT THE LOWER ENDS OF THE BRACKETS ENGAGEABLE BYTHE PIVOTED LEGS IN THE LOWERED POSITION OF THE SAME, LIMITING MOVEMENTOF THE LEGS IN THE LOWERING DIRECTION AND STOP PINS ENGAGEABLE WITH THELEGS IN LOWERED POSITION, SAID SIDE PORTIONS OF THE BRACKETS HAVINGSLOTS FOR GUIDING AND HOLDING SAID STOP PINS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LEGSAFTER THE LEGS HAVE BEEN LOWERED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOPSHOULDERS.